Debate over prayers provokes schism at council meeting

Strong feelings were expressed by councillors over the matter last Wednesday, many of them calling for the practice to be changed for the benefit of those who do not wish to pray.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Alan Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Crown) said: “Just carrying on with it because we have always done so, without making a conscious decision about it, really is demeaning.

“The council comes here as a civic body, not a religious body, to administer the district and comprises of members of all faiths and none.”

Supporting the idea of a moment of ‘quiet reflection’ to take the place of prayers, which are currently led by a religious representative nominated by the council chairman, Cllr Bill Gifford (Lib Dem, Leamington Milverton) said: “It would be all inclusive, we would not be putting people out, we would not be stopping people from saying prayers and it would allow people to think about what they are going to say during the course of the meeting and perhaps calm them down.”

But Cllr Ann Mellor (Con, Warwick South) pointed out that anyone who does not wish to take part can just “stand there quietly” and council leader Cllr Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele) said: “Councillors represent the community.

“Saying prayers is is a tradition. The Queen is also a tradition. Remember we represent our electorate.”

After an hour of debating, a vote was passed to carry on with the practice of saying prayers at the beginning of full council meetings, although the prayers will not form part of the agenda.

The matter had come to the fore because of a High Court ruling in February that the saying of prayers as part of a council meeting is not lawful, under the Local Government Act, but the recently introduced Localism Act granted local authorities the power to do so if they wish.

Both Warwick and Kenilworth town councils are to continue with the practice. Leamington town council does not hold prayers at or before its meetings.